A/N: So this is the last part of The Scariest Thought. Thank you to everyone that has read/reviewed this expansion from the original one shot. Your support has been great.

For those who don't already know, I'm also submitting a new piece for the Fandom4LLS. It's called Once and a very short teaser for it is already up on their website. Check it out and donate to read some great stories and help a worthy cause.

Part 6

The baby seems to be doing somersaults and cartwheels in my stomach as it stretches and kicks from inside of me. I take a deep breath as I rub a hand over my massive forty one week pregnant belly. The baby has been moving frequently since this morning. I think it can feel my nerves and excitement.

I look at my watch before looking back towards the arrivals entrance and let out a loud huff as I realise that he should be off the plane now. I sigh heavily again as I continue to rub circles on my belly to try and keep both me and the baby calm.

"Why does it always take so long for them to get through customs? The plane landed twenty minutes ago!" I exclaim.

Caroline Mellark smiles at me sympathetically as she places a gentle hand on my arm.

"He'll be here soon. He'll be running through the terminal to get to you," she says.

I give her a small smile in gratitude before fixing my gaze back at the arrivals door. I grow more agitated the longer I have to wait with my foot tapping impatiently as I constantly squirm in my chair.

I just need to see him again. Make sure that he is actually healthy and safe and whole. It's been a long hard seven months having to deal with this pregnancy and fearing for his safety on a regular basis. The first few months in particular were bad as things grew worse in Syria and I know a few people in Peeta's regiment that had to be sent home because their burns and injuries were so severe. I panicked every time I saw an unrecognised number calling my phone. But the worst of the conflict seems to be over now and they have started to send home some of the additional regiments they sent out.

By some miracle Peeta's arriving back home today. One whole week since the due date of our first child. Amazingly this baby doesn't seem to want to be born until its daddy gets back and I am seven days over due. I'm extremely uncomfortable and heavy but I don't mind. Not when it means Peeta will be here when the baby is born.

Peeta's mum gives my arm a reassuring squeeze as she too turns her attention to the arrival gate. His dad is also here waiting with us and turns to us with a smile.

"Let's just hope all the excitement at seeing him again doesn't finally induce your labour. I don't want my latest grandchild to be born in an airport," Mark jokes.

I try to muster a laugh but Peeta's mum throws her husband a look that says "This is not the time". He looks a bit sheepish before he looks away and stares at the advertising boards on display. Caroline gives me another reassuring smile as she rubs soothing circles on my arm.

"I know you are anxious to see him. I am too. I need to see for myself that he is all in one piece," she says.

I nod my head in agreement. She is probably the only other person that has understood my level of fear these last few months.

My relationship with Peeta's mum has improved rapidly during this latest deployment. She finds it just as hard to have her baby boy away in a war zone. And she has been extra supportive with this pregnancy. She's made sure I've taken all the right vitamins and been to every doctor's appointment that my own mother couldn't attend. Caroline loves all her grandchildren and she has made sure that this latest one is growing inside of me in the healthiest and safest possible way.

Madge says she doesn't know how I can stand having her interfering so much but with Peeta gone it is a relief to have someone here to live through this pregnancy with me. While my own family have been great supporting me they don't quite understand how hard it is when Peeta is gone. They just don't understand the crippling fear I have to try and subdue on a daily basis. Caroline does.

She's stopped trying to push religion on me. She's accepted that it is something I am never going to believe and while that makes her a little sad she no longer says things to purposefully make me feel guilty for not believing. My developing relationship with her has been the one good thing about Peeta being deployed in Syria.

We all sit in silence as we continue to stare at the arrivals entrance. Many of the other wives and girlfriends of the regiment are here as well but I am too anxious to talk to anyone. Everyone is just desperate to have their loved ones home.

Finally a large crowd of people begin making their way through, pushing trolleys and rolling suitcases. At the back of this crowd are a large group of people all wearing beige desert combat uniforms with rucksacks slung across their backs. Immediately there are cries of joy and delight as family members rush up to greet their loved ones with big hugs and huge smiles.

My heart begins to pick up as I search the crowd looking for a glimpse of Peeta's bright blue eyes and smile. It takes a moment but finally my eyes lock onto his and he gives me the biggest smile. I quickly scan his body to check for any new scars or blemishes. He looks tired and he hasn't shaved in a couple of days but other than that he looks perfectly fine.

The tears immediately begin to form in the corner of my eyes at the relief of seeing him again. I choke back a sob as I heave myself off the chair and stand ready to greet him.

Peeta's eyes scan my body quickly, resting on my huge stomach as his smile grows broader. He only pauses for a second before he is pushing past people to get to me.

The tears fall freely as soon as he is standing in front of me. He grasps my head in his hands to pull me up for a deep kiss. My heart bursts with the relief of seeing him again and I grip onto his arms tightly to anchor him to me. It is so good to feel him again. Solid, safe and warm.

However my belly gets in the way a bit and makes the angle of the kiss slightly awkward. We have to pull away and we both chuckle at the awkwardness of our first kiss again. Peeta still keeps my head in his hands though as he uses his thumb to wipe away my tears.

I'm scared to blink in case this is all a dream and I'll wake up and he'll be gone. I don't want to let him go.

"You're here. Safe. Real or not real?" I ask.

Peeta smiles at me sweetly as he wipes up more of my tears.

"Real," he replies before leaning over my massive belly to place a soft kiss on my lips.

I laugh lightly as I reach up to touch his face and my hand runs over his features to check him properly. His face is more tanned and the freckles more prominent on his nose but otherwise he seems unharmed.

As we are standing there, taking each other in again, the baby pushes against my front and Peeta can feel it from where he is pressed up against me. The movement jolts him and his eyes immediately drop to my belly. He smiles fondly before dropping to his knees and placing a hand on my stomach. He leans forward to place a kiss there and he rests his head against it.

"Sorry, baby. We haven't forgotten you. Are you still nice and snug in Mummy's tummy? Thank you for staying there until I got back. I can't wait to meet you," he says.

I smile down at him lovingly as I run a hand through his hair. I don't dare interrupt him as he continues to mumble words of love to our child. He's missed almost the entire pregnancy and this is his time to feel connected to the baby before it is born. Both his parents stand to the side with smiles on their faces and I even catch Caroline sniffing back a tear.

Eventually Peeta finishes talking to our child and he straightens up to turn and look at his parents. They both step forward and Peeta first encases his dad in a big bear hug before breaking away and folding his mum into his arms.

"It is so good to have you back home safe. I prayed for you every day," Caroline says.

Peeta smiles at her gratefully as she reaches up to stroke a bit of hair off his face. I take a step towards them and Peeta smiles as he breaks out of his mum's grip and pulls me to his side. He places a kiss on top of my head while a hand moves to rest on my belly. I don't think he ever wants to stop touching it. He looks round us all with a smile and relief in his eyes.

"Come on. Let's get home. I'm dying to get out of these boots," he says.

We all chuckle before his dad offers to pick up his bag and we head towards the short stay car park. I grip onto Peeta tightly to make sure he doesn't go anywhere again.

The car ride back is filled with easy chatter as Peeta wants to hear all the everyday mundane details of our lives. He wants to hear about Andy Murray's latest galant effort at Wimbledon and about the ugly looking orange cat that seems to think it now lives at our house.

We don't ask about his time in Syria. Tonight is not the time. He just wants to enjoy the fact he is home and forget all he saw while he was out there. He'll tell us what he has to in his own time but tonight is a happy time and not one where he dwells on harrowing experiences.

Caroline immediately makes herself useful as soon as we walk through our door. She rushes about putting on a load of washing and turning the oven on for dinner. Peeta collapses onto the sofa and pulls me down with him. I land with a thump and Peeta smiles before taking a deep breath and pulling me into his side. Caroline is busy ordering Peeta's dad about so we enjoy a quiet moment together.

"I missed you," Peeta sighs.

He rests his forehead against the side of my head as he closes his eyes as if to memorise every feature of my face. One hand is rubbing circles on my belly and every now again there is a little nudge in my stomach that causes a smile to appear on Peeta's face. I smile at him sweetly as I reach up to touch the side of his face.

"Please don't leave me again for a while," I say.

Peeta opens his eyes as he smiles up at me.

"I'm not going anywhere any time soon. You and the baby are my main priority now," he says.

I smile at him and reach up to give him a soft kiss. Caroline comes through with a tin of biscuits in her hands and we both smile as we draw back to look at her.

"I made you some shortbread. I know you must be desperate for anything other than army rations," she says.

Peeta smiles at her gratefully as he reaches out to take a bit of her prize winning shortbread.

"Thanks, Mum. I know I'm home as soon as I have had my first bit of your homemade shortbread," he replies.

Caroline beams at him before offering a bit to me and then going away to check on the steak pie in the oven. Peeta and I grin as we hear her scolding his dad for cutting up the carrots in the wrong way.

"Welcome home," I say as we both share a grin.

Peeta's parents finally leave after his mum has forced fed him all his favourite foods and told us to call as soon as something happens with the baby. We nod our heads and promise we will as we stand on the doorstep and watch them drive off.

Peeta lets out a sigh of relief as he closes the door.

"Thank goodness they are gone. I love them dearly but all I want to do it have a bath and curl up with you," he says.

He steps forward to place his hand around my waist and I smile sweetly up at him.

"I actually don't mind your mum. We actually grew pretty close while you were away," I reply.

Peeta's smile broadens.

"See. I told you everything happens for a reason. God obviously knew this was the best way for you two to get on," he says.

"Don't push things. I would like to think there is a less stressful way for your mother and I to become friends," I say.

Peeta chuckles.

"Maybe. But I am glad things are better between you two," he says.

He then turns to put his arm around my shoulder and begins walking us towards the stairs.

"Come on. I'm dying for a bath. I need to get out of these clothes," he says.

"Yeah. You stink," I say scrunching my nose up in mock disgust.

Peeta laughs again as he leads me up the stairs and towards our bedroom.

He stands in the bathroom completely nude as the steam from the hot water fills the room and the bath bubbles rise to the top of the tub. He stands staring at me with a cheeky glint in his eyes.

"Come on. It's time for you to get out of your clothes now," he says.

I let out a small laugh as I shake my head.

"Have you seen the size of me? We both can't fit in there," I say pointing my head in the direction of our small bathtub.

Peeta pouts before taking a step towards me and putting his arms around my waist.

"It's my first night back home and you are going to deny me a chance to see my beautiful wife naked," he says.

He's giving me that puppy dog look that he knows I find hard to resist. I go a little weak at the knees as he reaches up to run his hand down my neck, along my shoulders and down my side.

"I'm huge. I'm hardly beautiful right now," I reply.

Peeta shakes his head fiercely as he takes a step closer to me. He reaches up to cup my cheek in his hands and looks deeply into my eyes.

"You are at your most beautiful now. I can't tell you what it does to me to see you standing in front of me, all big and chubby, with our child growing inside you. It's knowing that we created this life together and loving you even more for it," he says.

He's looking at me with such love and pride that I melt into his touch. His words still have the same effect on me.

"Fine. But you might need to help me out of my shoes," I concede.

A wide grin spreads across Peeta's face and he reaches down to place a quick kiss on my lips.

"Great. Now let's get these clothes off you," he says.

I shake my head at him but there is a smile on my lips. It's good to have him home.

After Peeta has helped me out of my clothes, I pile my hair up into a messy bun before we both manage to squish ourselves into the small bathtub. I rest my back against his front, my belly just sticking out above the water line as Peeta grabs the sponge and squirts some shower gel onto it. Slowly he moves the sponge to my skin and begins to lather my body with soap.

"I thought you were the one who needed to get clean," I say with a smile.

Peeta smiles as he continues to move the sponge across my skin.

"You can't expect me not to touch you while I have you naked in front of me. It's been a long seven months," he replies.

I smile as I lean back into him and enjoy the gentle sensations of him sweeping his hands over my body. Already my nerve endings seem to be coming alive again.

"It didn't take you long to get me naked," I muse.

Peeta chuckles and places a kiss on my ear. His hand moves up now to lather and massage my naked breast. I moan as his fingers reach out to tweak and twist my nipple.

"Well your boobs have certainly got bigger. Got to take advantage of them before the baby is born," he replies.

I let out a light laugh as Peeta continues to knead my breast. I lean my head back against his shoulder as I wriggle a little bit as heat begins to gather in my core. As I do so I feel Peeta grow hard underneath me and he smiles as he continues to run his hands over my body.

His hands move to run over my belly again before dipping down below and reaching round to find my entrance. He runs a thick finger up my slit and I let out a contented sigh.

"I guess I shouldn't complain then," I say.

Peeta smiles as his hand continues to tease my entrance and he drops his head down to place a kiss on my shoulder. He rubs his nose against the skin there before nuzzling it against my neck.

"No, you shouldn't. Particularly when you've got such a handsome and appreciative husband," he says with a grin.

I laugh and shake my head.

"Good to see you are still as cocky as ever," I reply.

Peeta smiles again as he places a kiss against my neck.

"You wouldn't want me any other way," he says.

I smile again before he dips a finger inside of me and I let out a loud gasp.

"I love you," he whispers in my ear.

I can't find the words to reply as he inserts another finger into me and begins to move them in and out gently. He knows how much I love him.

However the cramped space and my big belly make the movements of his hand difficult and I know this isn't the way I want to cum. I dip my hand under the water and gently remove his hand from inside me. I raise our clasped hands to place a kiss on the back of his hand before placing it back down on my stomach.

"Not now," I say. "Not when there is not enough space to even move. We've got time now. There is no need to rush."

Peeta smiles at me as he strokes his hand over my belly and places a kiss on the side of my head.

"Okay, Miss Goody Goody. But as soon as I get you out of this tub I'm marching you to our bed and making love to you. You are not going to escape me," he says.

I laugh as I lean my head back against his shoulder and watch him run his hands across my belly. The baby kicks against his hand again, reminding us they are still there.

"Not a problem with me," I say with a smile.

Peeta grins again before placing another kiss on the side of my head. We spend the rest of the time in the bathtub just feeling relaxed together and recounting some of the amusing tales we both had while he was away. We stay in the bath until our fingers wrinkle and the water goes cold. But neither of us mind. We are in no hurry.

Afterwards, one we have dried off, Peeta makes good on his promise to make love to me slowly and sweetly as he moves inside of me from behind. I fall asleep with a smile on my face and Peeta's arms warm and steady around me.

The next morning I wake with twinges in my stomach. It seems now their daddy is back this baby doesn't want to wait any longer to enter this world. I grimace as the twinges get stronger and roll over to face Peeta. He slept like a log last night and I have to push his shoulder quite hard to wake him.

He wakes with a start and looks a little bewildered as he blinks the sleep out of his eyes. I smile at him as I bring his hand to rest against my stomach.

"It looks like you arrived back just in time. I think this little one is going to make an appearance today," I say.

Peeta's eyes grow wide in shock and awe as he reaches out both hands to clasp my belly between them.

"Really? Are you in labour?" he asks.

"I think so. I've been feeling mild contractions for the last hour," I say.

Peeta's eyes widen again as he throws the covers back and jumps out the bed.

"Why didn't you wake me sooner? We need to get you to the hospital," he says.

He begins rushing about our bedroom trying to find some clothes. I laugh as I manage to heave myself up into a sitting position. My hand goes to cradle my belly.

"It's okay. The contractions are still quite far apart. We have time. Though we should phone our parents and the hospital to let them know what is happening," I say.

Peeta stops his rushing and takes a deep breath before stepping towards me. He crouches down to look me in the eye.

"Are you sure? Because I can handle a battle zone but childbirth is way out of my comfort zone," he says.

I smile at him as I reach out to stroke the side of his face.

"I'm sure. But can you help me get up? I need to go to the toilet," I say.

Peeta smiles back at me and nods his head. He sticks his hand out for me and helps me to my feet. He talks to me all the way to the bathroom as he asks me what else I need and what else he can do for me. I smile as I answer his questions and grip onto his hand tightly when a contraction hits. I get the feeling Peeta is going to be a bit frantic as we wait for this labour to develop. He begins rushing about the house again as he makes sure everything is ready for when we have to leave.

It's slightly scary thinking about what I will have to go through in the next few hours but exciting at the same time. And I am just so thankful that Peeta is going to be here with me to experience it.

Seven hours later I am completely exhausted but unbelievably happy as I watch Peeta hold our daughter for the first time. She weighs 8lbs and 7oz, has a shock of dark hair and the cutest ten fingers and toes imaginable.

He sits beside me on the bed, cradling her in his arms with the biggest smile on his face. He hasn't stopped looking at her since the midwife placed her in his arms but he looks up now to me with tears in his eyes. But even through all the tears I can see the absolute joy and wonder in his face. I feel proud knowing that I helped put that look there.

"Thank you," he says placing a kiss on the top of my head. "Thank you for giving me the most perfect and beautiful daughter."

I smile at him tiredly as I rest my head against his shoulder and watch as our daughter sleeps peacefully. Peeta's gaze goes back to look at her adoringly. I realise that I will probably have to be content with being the second most important girl in Peeta's life now. Our daughter has made him completely smitten.

I can't believe we almost didn't get this moment together. One day later and Peeta would have missed the birth of his child. I know it would still be special to see him hold her for the first time, even if it was months after she was born, but I can't imagine experiencing this moment without him. I suddenly don't care that he missed almost every moment of the pregnancy. He's here now.

There is a soft knocking on the door and we both turn our heads round to look in the direction. We are met by the wide smiles of Peeta's parents. They both tentatively walk into the room, careful to not wake the baby as their eyes lock onto her sleeping form.

Peeta's dad is holding an "It's a girl!" balloon and fluffy pink rabbit as they both make their way further into the room to take a closer look at their granddaughter.

"Congratulations," Peeta's dad says.

He bends down to place a kiss on the side of my cheek and hands me the rabbit toy and balloon.

"Thank you," I say taking the gifts off him. "I've feel like I have just run ten marathons."

Mark chuckles.

"Well, you still look beautiful," he says. "I hope Peeta here wasn't too useless. I always felt queasy whenever Caroline was in labour."

Caroline shakes her head.

"Your father actually passed out when Duncan was born. Totally pathetic," Caroline says.

Peeta turns to look at his dad with a smile.

"No. I felt fine. Though I cried more than this one when she was born," Peeta replies.

Mark chuckles before my attention is turned to Caroline as she bends down next to Peeta. She reaches out to gently stroke some of my daughter's hair.

"She's gorgeous. You've done well," Caroline says.

"What did you expect? She has two extremely attractive parents. She was always going to be beautiful," Peeta says with a grin.

Caroline rolls her eyes at him.

"I see parenthood has made you no less arrogant," Caroline replies.

We all laugh but soon all our attention is pulled back to the sleeping baby in Peeta's arms.

"Do you have a name for her yet?" Caroline asks.

Peeta turns to look at me and gives me the nod to tell them. I reach over to my daughter and stroke her head as we get ready to give her her name for the first time.

"Grace," I say with a smile. "Grace Willow Mellark."

"What a beautiful name. It suits her perfectly," Caroline replies.

She smiles fondly at Grace before bringing her eyes up to me and giving me an appreciative smile. I can tell she is touched we gave her a biblical name.

We spent a long time debating the name. It proved more difficult than we thought. As I have been a teacher for the last eight years there are a lot of names I wouldn't even consider because I've taught pupils that have ruined certain names for me forever. And Peeta was keen to have a biblical name. It took many skype calls and letters to decide on a name we were both comfortable with.

Caroline is now sticking her arms out, desperate to hold Grace and Peeta reluctantly hands her over as if she is the most fragile thing in the world. Caroline smiles as she arranges Grace in her arms. Peeta's dad still stands, watching his wife rock his granddaughter.

"The hard work starts here. Raising a child is no walk in the park. There will be times you just want to run and hide from her," he says.

Caroline looks up to scowl at her husband.

"Stop scaring them. A child is the greatest gift in the world. They are going to be just fine," Caroline says.

Grace stretches out her arms and gives a little cry as she stirs in Caroline's arms. Her eyes open and her wails begin to fill the room.

"I think she wants her mummy again," Caroline says.

She passes Grace back to me and I hush her as Caroline carefully places her in my arms. I bounce her up and down as I try to calm her. Peeta's arm immediately goes around my shoulder as he helps me to calm her. Eventually Grace's cries stops and she looks up at us all with rapt curiosity. I smile down at her lovingly as she continues to look up at us all.

It's scary to think Peeta and I are now in charge of this little life. We will probably not get everything right and with Peeta in the army there will be times when I will have to look after her on my own. But I have learnt over the years that it is okay to be scared every now and again. It is one of our most natural reactions. And quite often the things that scare us end up bringing us our greatest joys and triumphs.

So for once, I don't mind being scared at all.